"Man of Steel"

Halfway through the year, I bring with me realizations from viewing MAN OF STEEL (which was more than a week ago).

It seems much has been said about the Catholic and/or Christian elements in the film.  Which, to me, is obvious: Kansas, where Smallville is, is 86% Christian; thus, the portrayal of Clark as Christian.  If Kal-El landed on Thailand, he would probably have been Buddhist.

And here I sense a deeper code: Clark grew up, with the help of his foster parents and by extension his Smallville community, to be a Christian.  His visit to the church and dialogue with a clergyman, deliberately done before his great choice, were explicit signs that he took seriously his being Christian.

Do I? Do we?

*Originally posted on Facebook

Who am I?

I am a child of God,
loved into existence,
redeemed towards fullness,
embraced by heaven even while journeying on earth.

*Originally posted on Facebook

Declarations

Our declarations express what we believe, and shape what we become.  Because "from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."

We are surrounded by declarations from all around: thank-yous and promises from elected officials, jokes over a heinous crime from a celebrity, a singer's "out-ing" of her sexual preference (probably not sexuality, as many media outfits identify), calls for help from a country between Europe and Asia, among many others.

But are we only the sum total of what we are able to express, whether through our words or through our emotions, efforts and exercise?  Are we to be defined, appreciated, related to only according to what we sense, to what we are able to say, to how we see things, to how we struggle between despair and hope?

I am grateful to my Nanay for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  She was among the first persons in my life who introduced me to what is beyond me, to that Who loved me into existence.  It is from the abundance of His heart, pierced and wounded so that when I am pierced and wounded I may know consolation, that words have come to define who I have come to believe I am.  Who am I, beyond my struggles and searching, my despairs and decisions, my musings and music and ministry, my loves and lusts and lukewarmness, my faith and my falls and my forwards?  Who am I beyond all these?  He tells me, with all the love in this world and beyond: I am HIS.

On this Year of Faith, I pray you hear Him too, tell you this.

*Originally posted on Facebook

By the well in Kabankalan

In the Philippines, youth ministers from all over the Philippines came to a city called Kabankalan, which was not far (well, depending on your perspective) from the place where the living Word was first proclaimed and earthly bread was transformed into Christ's body. They seemed tired from their journey in youth ministry and sat down "by the well". It was about noontime of the year, having held towards the end of May.

For the above verses, I thank John the Evangelist for the words in his chapter 4, verses 5-6. We youth ministers came from all regional coordinations of Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines, upon the invitation of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth, for the meeting of the National Youth Coordinating Council. Most Rev. Patricio Buzon, SDB, DD, together with his jolly and committed youth ministers, opened the doors of his diocese to us. The 28th to the 31st of May 2013 were days marked by great simplicity: in location (Kabankalan is not a big urban city in the likes of Manila, Cebu or even Bacolod, but it is, like Sychar that is sanctified by the Patriarchs Jacob and Joseph, made holy by the martyrdom of unsung heroes during the dictatorship), in arrangements (we were in simple rooms, served simple but filling meals), even in process (there was no mind-boggling input or complicated activity). We youth ministers came together and reminded ourselves, allowed ourselves to be reminded, of what is basic in this beautiful and challenging ministry: to be evangelized that we may be evangelizing.

The experience gave us the opportunity to come together to draw water, but it also allowed us to listen to our Lord say to us, "Give me a drink of water."

We received the life-giving water of the Lord in our fellowship (both in fun times and in difficult times--and truly, there was a "natural calamity" where those affected were consoled by the communion of others), in the challenge of "professionalizing" and "corporate-izing" youth ministry, in assessing the current situation of our young people, and in those moments of prayer which became sources of who we are and how we should serve.

But we too have fed the Lord. We fed Him through our humble efforts of listening, through our openness to be confronted with how more youth ministry can become not so much an effective strategy but a shining, attractive manifestation of Jesus' love today, through our giving of ourselves in our worship in silence or in song.

It is my prayer that each youth minister all over this archipelago may receive openly and courageously the water that Jesus is, allow ourselves to become springs of His life-giving presence to the Church and her young people. Then can we hope for our young people exclaim, "We believe now, not because of what you said, but because we ourselves have heard Him, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world!" [cf. Jn 4:42]

Real voting

My vote doesn't end today.

Real voting, the kind that is rooted in love of country and of fellowmen and women, flows into the next days until the next elections, and is shown by electing to do what is good (like crossing the road only when the traffic light signals me to), to participate actively in appropriate venues for citizenship (such as barangay assemblies, responsible posting in social media, etc.), to choose the common good and absolute values as basis in my daily decisions (for the brands that I patronize, the events I attend, the politicians I invite to these events, the shows that I watch, the advice that I give to those who seek it, etc.).

And I will strive to do this not only because this is what Inang Pilipinas deserves, but also because this is what my faith in Jesus Christ empowers me to become, as Inang Simbahan guides me to do.

*Originally posted on Facebook

Mother

I want to thank You, God, Great Mother of us all, for loving us all into existence.

Thank You for the gift of motherhood which You shared with Eve and her daughters, which You empowered Mary to be supreme example, which You from age to age make fertile through love, understanding, consolation and hope.

I thank You in a special way for Benita, committed apostle of the Sacred Heart of Your only begotten Son, Jesus, who blessed me by procreating me with You and Ruperto, by carrying me despite her advanced age, by birthing me and nurturing me and lavishing me with love that is always sweet, sometimes demanding, but ever motherly.  You have called her back to You; may I one day join her again in Your everlasting, blessed embrace.

I ask You to bless my other mothers:

Mother Church, who continues to strive in living with fidelity her union with Your Son; may we all build her up by our own responsible and committed living of our Baptismal gift.

My motherland, who is attacked from all sides and even by her own children with ideologies and strategies that are not Filipino; may we gift her with our conscience-driven, life-giving exercise of our vote tomorrow, and our conscientious participation in her daily affairs.

My mother tongue, often unrecognized, sometimes disrespected, but so essential for understanding and cooperation; may she prosper again through education that flows into everyday existence.

Bless too, mothers related to me by blood (aunties, cousins, nieces, other relatives), by bonding (friends and acquaintances), or by blessing (heroic mothers I look up to: Margaret Occhiena, Monica of Hippo, Gianna Beretta Molla, etc.).

*Originally posted on Facebook

Results (on the elections)

I think this makes a lot of sense.

You want the same results? Then do the same things again and again.

You want a different outcome? Then do things differently.

You want a better outcome? To just work "harder" may not always do the trick. There should be something different in what you put in, or in how you do it.

I believe the same applies to our voting. If we vote for the same people, or use the same method of preparing for voting (or the lack of it), then we shouldn't be surprised we're in the mire we're in.

It seems to me that for voting, my general criteria, so far, are:

1. No other family member in (elected positions in) government -- this is always a source of temptation to make one's family nepotistic, and we can help them avoid this temptation by not electing them all family into office.
2. New but competent persons (track record, curriculum vitae, stand on issues, etc.).
3. Aside from other helpful standards as L.A.S.E.R. (lifestyle, action, supporters, election conduct and reputation) will be helpful for our democracy: Bago naman! More importantly, a new way of voting can also bring us a new (and hopefully renewing) scenario for the political landscape. Tama na 'yung "name recall, pogi/maganda sa poster, kilala ng pinsan ko, binigyan kami ng relief goods" lang.

Some suggestions:

1. Perhaps this time, let us really study how we will vote. Consult friends, search the net, reflect are just some new ways.
2. And let us prod others to do the same.
3. We can also try (perhaps for the first time for some) to let faith enlighten our choices. Try lang; if faith is supposed to be life-giving for the soul, can it not also be for the body?
4. See voting not as a "one-time, big-time" right for one day every 3 years, but as a responsibility we owe to our country that makes us proud because of its Tubbataha Reef, Verde Passage, rice terraces, fiestas, natural warmth, halo-halo, family closeness, Santo Nino, etc., a responsibility upon us all each day of our "always-blessed, sometimes-damned" Filipino lives.

*Originally posted on Facebook